EarPlugs

EARPLUGS - Alpine moto-safe Filtered Ear plugs

Filtered plugs ideal for motorcycles, protects your ears while allowing you to hear what's going on.

£14.99

Increasingly the world in which we live and the activities in which participate are becoming more noisy and our perception of how loud sounds around us are can be confused by a variety of external influences including emotion, excitement and anxiety. This type of noise is dangerous since it is generated as part of a leisure activity and not considered damaging. Motorsport and music are two of the most likely noise sources that we are exposed to at excessive levels and will cause permanent long term hearing problems. Some of the earplugs listed here are attenuating - that is they have the effect of turning the volume down, but not completely blocking your ears leaving you to fully enjoy your chosen activity. If you want to learn more about noise and the current legislation concerning noise

We also have earplugs for use in the workplace and special models that can help with sleeping and swimming and range of custom-fit solutions for absolute long-term comfort.

Alpine UniFit Noise Attenuating Earplugs
Attenuating generic fit ear plugs that block out high levels of noise without totally blocking.

Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to noise induced hearing loss that is predominantly caused by wind-noise. Even at speed as low as 50mph (80kph) the wind noise inside the helmet can reach 85dB which is the figure generally regarded as the point where ear protection should be used. At 70mph (115kph) this figure can be as high as 100dB and of course beyond these speeds wind-noise increases further still. The recommended daily exposure to this noise level is just 15 minutes. We have a range of attenuating generic and custom-fit earplug solutions as well as earplug/headphone combinations to keep you safe and entertained.

For more information take a look at measurements taken by independent consultants ISVR (Institute of Noise and Vibration). This site provides detailed information into noise levels under motorcycle crash helmets.

You will find that for safety purposes, where we are concerned with daily exposures at or above 85 dB, periods of exposure to noise levels below 75 dB add at most about 0.5 dB to the total. Short quiet breaks also don't affect the total much. You can try the effect of a one hour break in a full day by changing the duration from eight hours to seven. But a short period of very high noise level has a large effect. Try a few minutes at 110 dB(A) - it doesn't take long to exceed the first action level of 85 dB!

How Much Noise?

People discuss noise levels in terms of decibels, but since it is a difficult unit to realise, here is a table to give you an approximate idea of the kind of levels you may become exposed to during a working day – including one for Rocket Scientists!

Noise Source	Typical SPL in Decibels
Rocket Launching Pad	180
Jet Engine	140
Shotgun Blast	140
Riveting Steel Tank	130
Car Horn	120
Sandblasting	112
Woodworking Shop	100
Punch Press	100
Pneumatic Drill	100
Hydraulic Press	100
Can Manufacturing Plant	100
Subway/Underground/Metro	90
Average Factory	80-90
Noisy Restaurant	80
Office Matrix Printer	80
Busy Traffic	75
Conversational Speech	66
Average Home	50
Quiet Office	40
Whispered Speech	30

Noise over 140 dB will cause PAIN.

Exposure to noise over 90 dB, depending on the amount over and for how long, can harm hearing and lead to other aural complications such as tinnitus, hyperacousis and hearing loss. If you ever experience tinnitus (ringing in the ear) after going to a concert, operating noisy machines or following a motorcycle ride – this is a warning. You have been exposed to an excessive amount of noise and should seriously consider using earplugs.

How Much Noise?

Noise Source

Typical SPL in Decibels